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A party supporter walks past banners promoting candidates for the role of Golkar Party chairman prior to the party's extraordinary national congress in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Friday. The congress, running from Saturday until Tuesday, was tasked with electing the party chairman for 2016-2021 period, from eight candidate tickets. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
Outgoing Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie delivers a speech during the extraordinary congress in Nusa Dua on Saturday. More than 3,000 party members from chapters across the country took part in the congress. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo delivers the opening remarks at the Golkar extraordinary congress on Saturday. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
Flag bearers carry red-and-white flags during the opening ceremony of the Golkar extraordinary congress in Bali. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
Vice President Jusuf Kalla (right), who is also a Golkar senior member, attends the opening of the extraordinary congress in Nusa Dua on Saturday. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
Hundreds of Golkar supporters attend the party's extraordinary congress on Saturday. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
Ushers prepare themselves to welcome guests before the opening of the extraordinary congress. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
Party members get ready on the sidelines of the congress. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
Security guards prevent Golkar secretary-general Idrus Marham from entering the venue of the extraordinary congress on Sunday. The congress reportedly descended into chaos as many factions fought for the party's top post. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
Security guards prevent several party members and journalists from entering the congress venue on Sunday. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
Richad Reibo, a representative from North Maluku, is driven out of the congress venue by security guards amid chaos resulting from a dispute between two contesting camps in the party. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
Reporters argue with police after one officer reportedly scolded a female reporter as she was was about to interview a congress participant. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
Hundreds of congress participants nap while waiting for voting to open during the Golkar Party’s national congress in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Tuesday. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
Witnesses check the ballots during the vote. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
Committee officers record votes on a whiteboard during voting. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
Newly elected Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto (center) is congratulated by the party’s plenary leader Nurdin Halid (right) while his main rival, Ade Komarudin, (left) looks on. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
Newly elected Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto (center) hugs rival Ade Komarudin (left) and outgoing chairman Aburizal Bakrie (right) following the announcement that Setya won the vote. JP/Zul Trio Anggono
More than 3,000 Golkar members from 34 branches across the country took part in the congress on the resort island of Bali. The meeting of Indonesia’s second-biggest party in the House of Representatives was opened by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
Eight men contested the election for Golkar’s top post with House Speaker Ade Komarudin and former House speaker Setya Novanto being the frontrunners among hopefuls Aziz Syamsuddin, Mahyudin, former lawmakers Airlangga Hartarto, Indra Bambang Utoyo and Priyo Budi Santoso as well as South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo. The election ended with controversial senior politician and lawmaker Setya Novanto garnering the most votes at the party’s national congress in the early hours of Tuesday, handing him the leader's post for the veteran party.
Setya started his political career in the lower rungs of the party, which was closely tied to the late dictator Soeharto. Setya climbed his way to the top until he was appointed Golkar treasurer.
The lawmaker, who sided with Aburizal in a leadership battle, was appointed House speaker for 2014 to 2019. He later came in the spotlight after a recording went public of a conversation between him, businessman Riza Chalid and former US-based mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia president director Maroef Sjamsoeddin.
In the conversation, reportedly regarding a backroom deal with the company, Riza and Setya were suspected to have misused Jokowi’s name. The scandal rocked the House and its ethics council declared Setya guilty of misconduct, leading to his resignation from the speaker position in 2015. He was then appointed to lead the Golkar faction at the House.
In the Golkar national congress, businessman Setya was recorded to be the richest candidate, with Rp 114.77 billion and U$49,150 in assets. [dmr]
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